Building Measurement and Budgeting (Mediciones y Presupuestos)
Building Measurement and Budgeting (Mediciones y Presupuestos) tests whether you can measure work from drawings, build unit prices and assemble a defensible budget.
The measurement chain
Estado de mediciones lists quantities by unit (m², m³, ml, ud). Cuadro de precios nº 1 gives unit prices; nº 2 gives descompuestos (labour, materials, machinery). The presupuesto de ejecución material (PEM) is the sum of measured quantities × unit prices.
From PEM to tender
For public works, add gastos generales (commonly 13%) and beneficio industrial (6%) to obtain the presupuesto base de licitación; IVA is added separately. Certifications value work executed, not work planned.
Worked example
A partition of 250 m² at €45/m² = €11,250. Flooring of 300 m² at €30/m² = €9,000. PEM = €20,250. Gastos generales 13% = €2,632.50; beneficio 6% = €1,215.00. PBL = €24,097.50. With 21% IVA, the client pays €29,157.98.
Traps
- Deducting openings below the measurement rule threshold, or not deducting large ones.
- Mixing m² and m³, or counting the same item twice.
- Applying percentages to a base that already includes IVA.
- Forgetting that revisions of prices apply only where the contract allows them.